Android is a smartphone and tablet operating system created by Google and opened up to customization by major device manufacturers, such as Samsung, LG, Sony, and HTC. Shortly after the PlayBook was launched, BlackBerry released an Android runtime which would allow developers to easily put their Android apps onto the tablet. After users were able to earn root access to the PlayBook, it became possible to sideload Android applications onto the PlayBook using a number of tools. With BlackBerry 10, users can do the same thing and with the release of BlackBerry OS 10.2.1, Android APK files will be able to be downloaded directly to device and installed using the on-board system installer. As of BlackBerry OS 10.3, APK files will no longer need to be sideloaded but can instead be downloaded and directly installed through the Amazon Appstore integration.

For everything Android, head over to our sibling site Android Central. Tell them Lloyd sent you.

Timeline Beta

Jul 08, 2015
BlackBerry Blend v1.2 update now available

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BlackBerry Blend v1.2 has been available for Beta Zone users for some time and in early June it was announced that it would be available to everyone soon enough. Today, an update to Blend has arrived for BlackBerry 10, Android as well as iOS. It brings with it a new Dashboard design and UI, as well as the ability to reply to BBM and SMS messages directly from notification pop-ups.

Jul 03, 2015
Leaked render shows off the BlackBerry Venice and all of its Android glory

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The rumors continue about the BlackBerry Venice. This time around we have a render of what is said to be BlackBerry's upcoming slider phone, running a full version of Android. Recently it was rumored that this device would be headed to AT&T, which wouldn't be much of a surprise.

Jun 29, 2015
BBM Money users in Indonesia can now pay for goods and services online and in stores

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While we're still waiting to hear some news about BBM Money for the U.S. and Canada, BlackBerry last week held an event to update media and the Android, BlackBerry and iOS communities in Indonesia on the latest additions to BBM Money that for the first time brings Instant Mobile Payments to users of the app on all major platforms and allows them pay for goods and services online and in stores – regardless of who they bank with.

There has been quite a bit of chatter lately about Android-powered BlackBerry devices, and yet another rumor has surfaced. According to N4BB, BlackBerry's first Android device is called the BlackBerry "Prague", which won't be flagship style hardware, instead more on the lower end.

Shocking, right? Who would have thought? BlackBerry users love BlackBerry 10 and don't want an Android-based BlackBerry. Truthfully, I was playing devil's advocate a bit in asking the question because I entirely expected the majority to flat out tell me I was crazy for asking and proceed to reach for their pitchforks. But, that never happened aside from the odd 'what a dumb question' comment.

If you're not a PC or console gamer feel free to ignore this post as it probably won't be of interest. However, millions of people do spend a ton of time on their computers, PlayStation or Xbox and you may well be pleased to hear that you can join your Android or iPhone buddies by having Twitch on your BlackBerry 10 device.

I honestly cannot remember the last time Deezer's streaming music app was last updated for BlackBerry 10 but, I know without a doubt that right now, there's a new update available. Although it remains an Android port at this point, Deezer has added a rather significant change to this release, one I'm sure anyone who is using the app will certainly appreciate. So what is it? Well, it's better sounding music, essentially.

Mar 27, 2015
Reebee shopping list and flyer app returns to BlackBerry World with a new look

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Back when BlackBerry 10 launched, one of my favorite apps was Reebee. The app collected all the local flyers in my area and presented them in a way that was easy to read, so I could keep up with any sales that were happening through stores nearby. Eventually, Reebee stopped being updated, and I switched to Flipp, which offers a similar service though I found it to be slightly less reliable when it came to finding all available flyers.

Since the removal of music and movies from BlackBerry World, BlackBerry users have had to look elsewhere to get music on their devices and one option available is the HMV Music app. Truth be told, the app has been neglected for a bit as one might be able to tell from reading the reviews, but that's neither here nor there now as v2.0.0.4 has arrived and is readily available for download from BlackBerry World.

BlackBerry announced today that the company is working with Google to enable BES12, the cross-platform EMM solution by BlackBerry to manage devices equipped with Android for Work, Google's solution to securely separate business and personal data and applications that debuted at Google I/O last year.

With two beta releases already out there, it's now time for Snap v3 beta 3. As expected, this release brings along with it several bug fixes and changes including some changes to address download issues, scrolling and there's now additional layout fixes for the BlackBerry Passport as well. That's just a small list of additions, you can view the rest below.

Although this announcement might not mean a lot for BlackBerry users, it could come in handy when recommending others to download BBM. BlackBerry has now made BBM available through the Amazon Appstore.

Amazon's free app of the day today is a real gem. I hadn't heard of Bamba before this morning but as soon as I saw it was available I downloaded it to my Passport and it was instantly clear that this one was worth sharing.

The first beta of Snap v3 brought an overwhelming response from the BlackBerry community! There were over 11,500 downloads of the new beta and over 200 feedback emails. I'm so grateful to have such a supportive community of testers. With such a response from the community, I must answer back with a new beta build!

As noted, Snap v3 Beta 2 will be released Tuesday (2/10) night, with a few important bug fixes so we'll let you all know when that is available for download. Needless to say, those numbers are pretty impressive. Have you downloaded the latest build? If not, get to it.

Whether you're into cooking or just looking for some inspiration, today could be the perfect way to get creative in the kitchen thanks to Amazon and Jamie Oliver. Normally just short of five bucks, Jamie's 20 Minute Meals is Amazon's free app of the day and after downloading it onto my BlackBerry Passport it looks to be a real sizzler!

It seems forever ago now that we saw the first teaser of Snap v3 with its all new design based on Android Lollipop. So long in fact, many folks began to wonder whether or not it was still going to be released.

As it turns out, it will be and Red Light of Love took to Twitter to offer everyone an update and a brand new preview of the native app that allows you to install Android apps directly from the Google Play Store. Hit play on the video above to check out the preview.

BlackBerry has now made another move to further improve their BES12 offerings by announcing support for Android 5.0 Lollipop.

"Customers recognize the risks that mobility brings into their organization, and BES12 is the insurance policy that will protect their critical data while giving them the freedom to choose whichever platforms they prefer," said Billy Ho, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Product and Value Added Solutions, BlackBerry. "We are pleased to manage Android Lollipop through BES12, allowing enterprises to enable better productivity for their employees."

BES12 support for Android Lollipop was made available to customers in early November. The capability underscores BlackBerry's commitment to unparalleled security in managing devices from multiple platforms in the enterprise, and further demonstrates the breadth of BES12 functionality.

If you fancy exercising the old grey matter then you may want to jump into the Amazon Appstore and download IQ Mission which is currently free today. If you're a whizz at board and puzzle games (very much unlike me) this one should keep you well occupied.

Just a quick heads up for you folk that like to take advantage of Amazon's 'free app of the day'. Atomus HD is todays offering and it may not be super exciting or productive, but it oozes awesomeness - trust me.

When it comes to the BlackBerry 10 Android Runtime, there's been plenty of debate about whether or not it's good enough to fill the 'app gap' on BlackBerry 10. When the Amazon Appstore deal was announced I was rather skeptical about it all because right now, on official BlackBerry 10 releases the Android Runtime still has what I consider to be a few issues of concern.

If you decided to transition your music from BlackBerry World to the 7digital Music Store app on BlackBerry 10, you'll want to make sure you have the latest version installed. A new update to the 7digital Music Store has now arrived in BlackBerry World and although the change log is small, there's some important changes within it such as improvements for saving your music to your SD Card.

Fix for issue saving to SD Card

Fix for missing featured albums

Fix for Canadian English store sending French emails

The update is live now, so there shouldn't be any waiting for it to arrive. For those who like to keep track of version numbers, it goes from 5.69.5.1 to 5.69.6.1. Are you using the 7digital Music Store or did you look elsewhere for music purchases now? Let us know.

We've featured Max Mobile Security a couple of times here before, and the same developers have now released AntiVirus - a more cost effective application.

While I suspect that many BlackBerry 10 users will currently be more than happy with the awesome level of security their device gives them, this app will give you some extra reassurance when downloading Android apps/games.

All Android

When BBM was released for Android it was limited to devices running Ice Cream Sandwich and above. That left quite a few people without considering the fact that as of January 8th, there was still 21 percent of all Android users still running Gingerbread. No matter though because the folks at BBM have been working on hard on a special release for those individuals and are now moving into an...

Now that BlackBerry 10.2.1 has arrived for most folks, the ability to install Android APK files with no need for file conversion is going to be one of the biggest highlights. It opens the doors to a lot of apps that otherwise might not be available thanks to the included Android runtime on BlackBerry 10. With that though comes the problem of where to get APK files.
There's really a lot of...

BlackBerry 10.2.1 introduced the ability to install .APK files, which are the app files used in Android, directly to your phone. This throws the doors open to install a wide variety of Android apps on your BlackBerry 10 device, be it a Z10, Q10, Q5, Z30, or anything else. This used to be possible through a long, convoluted process, but it's much easier now. Basically, if you can't find an app...

So you're finally updating to an official version of OS 10.2.1. It's been a long time coming, but for those of you who waited it out without installing a leak, I applaud you. Now you can take advantage of all of the great features that OS 10.2.1 has to offer including OTA installs of Android applications (APKs).
Unlike before when you had to run though a lengthy process of converting and...

In addition to CESLive, there's several other events happening that we'll be checking out while in Las Vegas and one of those is the New Media Expo. Earlier, Rene stopped by the BBM booth to speak with Jeff Gadway about the brand new BBM 2.0 beta for Android and iOS.
Although still in beta for now, the update includes BBM channels for broadcasting and interaction, voice calls for crystal...

If you were worrying about the progress of BBM for Android — fear not. A new version has hit the BlackBerry Beta Zone that brings along many of the anticipated features Android users have been waiting for. In addition to some new tweaks and enhancements, the update has over 100 new emoticons, improved file sharing, BBM Channels and BBM Voice.
The Android beta is only open to a small set of...

If you're running one of the latest leaks and looking to cash in on a little Christmas cheer, Amazon may have your answer. Their current promo will net you a free $5 credit good towards any app or game in their extensive catalog. All you need to do is download any app or game from the Amazon app store -- even a free one.
This does come with a few caveats however. First off you'll need to be...

If you're all in on loading up Android APK files on your BlackBerry 10 smartphone then there's a pretty good chance you've already given the APK downloader app Snap a go. The developer behind it, James Paul Muir, has now released a new version and made it available for download to those who wish to sideload it.
Infinite scrolling of Lists and Search results (yay more than 20 results!!)
Fix...

That's right, even though we're a BlackBerry-focused website we realize we have a lot of readers coming to us from Android devices and much like we have in the past with our forums apps, we're spreading the CrackBerry love with a new app built specifically for Android devices. If you've you been making use of the Android Central app, then the new CrackBerry Android app will certainly be...

The folks at Instagram dropped another announcement today with some new updates for the service. Instagram Direct now lets you send images privately to up to 15 contacts rather than posting them to your stream for everyone to see. You can choose to send private images and/or videos to your friends where they'll show up in their private inbox.
We're not totally sure that it's an alternative to...

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